Draft regulator for chimneys



l June 10,1924. 1,496,797

u. wAsKA DRAFT REGULATOR FOR CHIMNEYS Filfed Nov.' 20. 1922 lNVN-VUH AMI-:5 W95 14A Patented .l une 10, 1924.

JAMES WASKA, 0F CICERO, ILLINOIS.

DRAFT REGULATOR FOR CHIMNEYS.

Application filed November 20, 1922. Serial No. 601,979.

To all 107mm t may concern.'

Be it known that I, JAMES WAsKA, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Draft Regulator for Chimneys, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to a draft regulating or controlling means for chimneys and the like, and the primary object of the invention is to provide a regulating device operable automatically to maintain under varying weather conditions a substantially steady re in the furnace or other rheating equipment discharging into the chimney flue.

More specifically stated, `the object of the invention is to provide a means for advantageous construction operable to `substantially eliminate down drafts; to prevent waste of fuel due to the excessive escape of heat from the chimney; and to prevent effectually the escape of sparks from the chimney.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a regulator of extremely simple construction, capable of being quickly and easily applied to existing chimneys, and presenting a neat and ornamental appearance.

The .objects of the invention thus generally stated, together with other and ancillary advantages, may be attained by .the construction and arrangement illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part hereof. While I have illustrated and described herein one embodiment only of my invention, it is contemplated that various changes in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims. y.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a perspective view of a portion of the chimney showing my improved regulator applied thereto. Figs. 2, y3 and 4 are perspective views of the regulator detached, showing various operative positions of the controlling valve or damper. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating a detail of construction.

The embodiment of the invention selected for purposes of illustration comprises a tubular body made to conform to the shape of the flue assage provided in the 4upper portion of t e chimney.- Herein the body Vber extend in opposite` directions.

is rectangular in form so as tov fit snugly within the rectangular flue passage provided at the upper end of the chimney 7 Thus it comprises opposed side walls 8 and is open at its upper and lower ends. Between its ends the body is provided -with outwardly extending flanges 9 adapted to rest upon the upper end of the chimney, and the arrangement is preferably such that the major portion of the body depends into the flue passage off the chimney. The portion of the body above the flanges 9 thus constitutes a continuation of the flue passage.

Two of the opposed side walls of thebody are provided at their upper ends with perforations 10, and the other two walls are cut away above the flanges 9 as at 11, leaving triangular side portions 12.

Approximately midway between the perforated walls of the body is a controlling member operable automatically by wind pressure to vary the size ofthe passage through the flue. This member in the present instance is in the form of a flat plate 13 pivotally mounted upon a horizontal axis by means oftrunnions at each edge thereof. Said trunnions are herein shown as formed by the opposite ends of a cross rod 14 supported in bearings 15. The latter are carried by the side walls of the tubular body which have their upper edges cut away.

The axis of the controlling member' 1?) is disposed somewhat above the center of the plate, so that gravity operates normally to maintain the member in an upright position. The upper end of the member, however, projects slightly above the uppermost edges of the perforated side walls. Thus it is not only exposed to wind `pressure passing through the cut-away or notched side walls, but also to that passing over the body.

At its opposite side edges, the contro-lling member is provided with flanges 16 and 16 which at the respective edges of the mem- These lianges it will be apparent, coact with the adjacent face of the controlling member to form air pockets such that when the direction of the wind is approximately diagonal with respect to the chimney and the controlling member, the pressure will neverthelessbe effective to actuate the controlling member. Said flanges may, ifdesired, be inclined somewhat from a perpendicular relation to the controlling member in order to insure the ,movement of the Controlling member even when the wind is travelling in a direction approximately parallel to the normal upright plane of the controlling member.

Means is provided for limiting the extent of swinging movement of the controlling member so as to prevent a complete restriction of the flue passageway, and this means in the present instance comprises the extended lower end portion of the controlling member which is made of a length such that it will engage with one side wall of the tubular body before the upper end ot the member engages the opposite side wall at the upper end of the body. rllhus an elongated aperture is insured between the controlling member and the adjacent side wall of the body, through which smoke and the products of combustion may pass. In addition, the apertures l() in the side walls provide an additional outlet for the smoke and the like.

The device may be constructed in any suitable manner and of any preferred material, but preferably is made ot non-corrosive metal such as copper. Herein the body is made from a single tlat sheet ot met-al, the opposite ends of which overlap at 17. Between the upper and lower ends of the sheet, the supporting flanges 9 are formed. The bearings l5, as shown `in Fig. 5, are formed from the notched side walls out of the material which would norn'ially be cut away to provide access for the wind pres-- sureagainst the valve vmember at opposite side edges thereof. rlhese bearings, as shown, comprise turned up stop portions 15 serving to limit the longitudinal movement of the rod 14- in the bearings l5.

The operation of the device will, it is believed, be apparent. In the absence of wind pressure as upon a calm, quiet day, the controlling member will occupy its normal upright position (Figs. l and 2) and the flue passageway will be substantially unrestricted. VVhen, however, the weather is stormy, or a wind is blowing, the controlling member will be moved to a greater or less extent from one side to the other (Figs. 3 anda) and thus coact with the side walls to restrict to a corresponding degree the flue passageway. Accordingly, the device will operate automatically to maintain under varying weather conditions a substantially steady lire. in the furnace or other heating appliance. Moreover, it will serve to prevent down drafts, which are objectionable not only because they interfere with the efficient combustion of fuel but also because they tend to torce smoke and soot from the heating equipment into the room. Also, it will be obvious the device tends to prevent excessive escape of heat from the chimney which obviously occurs on a windy day when. the flue passage is unrestricted. A further result is that by the restriction of the flue passage, danger from sparks discharged rom the chimney is substantially eliminated. This is o primary importance in rural districts.

The device is capable ot being applied quickly and easily, requiring no tools whatever, it being only necessary to set it down into the chimney flue with the flanges resting upon the top of the chimney. Moreover, it presents a neat appearance, there being no unsightly parts tending to destroy the symmetry of the chimney.

I claim as my invention:

l. A draft regulator comprising a tubular body substantially rectangular in form and having means for supporting it in the upper portion ot a chimney so as to constitute a continuation of the line passage, said body having a portion projecting above the chimney and comprising a pair of opposed plates having triangular side portions, and a controlling member mounted midway between said plates upon a horizontal axis and normally occupying a substantially upright position and having a limited movement from side to side in said passage, said plates being perforated to permit the escape ot' products of combustion when the controlling member `is in its closed position.

2. A draft regulator comprising a tubular body substantially rectangular in form and having means for supporting it in the upper portion of a chimney so as to constitute a continuation. of the flue passage, said body having a portion projecting above the chimney and comprising a pair of opposed plates having tri( ngular side portions, and a controlling member mounted midway between said plates upon a horizontal axis and normally occupying a substantially upright position and movable into positions with respect to said triangular portions so as to coact therewith in closing the flue passage.

3. A draft regulator comprising a body made from a single rectangular sheet ot metal and having horizontal supporting flanges near its upper end adapted to rest upon the top ot a chimney at the edge or' the flue opening therein, a controlling member, and means for pivotally supporting said controlling member in the body com prising pivoted studs at the opposite side edges of the controlling member, and bearing members on the body adapted to receive said studs, two opposite side walls of the body portion being cut to provide said bearing members integral with the said side walls and also to expose the controlling member.

ln testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature.

JAMES VVASKA.

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